Receptacle closure lock



I June 7, 1949. w. L. VINSON RECEPTACLE CLOSURE LOCK Filed NOV. 25, 1946 M71. 75/? L. Vlmso/r Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES P OFFEQE RECEPTACLE CLOSURE LOCK Walter L. Vinson, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Application November 23, 1946, Serial No. 711,949

10 Claims. 1

preventing dogs and other animals from removing the lid and assuring that the lid will remain tightly in place to prevent the escape of disagreeable garbage odors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simply constructed locking means of the character described which is reliable in operation, comparatively small and compact and affcrds the advantages herein set forth by reason of the particular construction, interrelation and operation, of a pair of rotary cam members and spring loaded latch hooks, to which cam members the ends of the bail are fixed so that responsive to the swinging of the bail, said latch hooks will move into and out of position for locking the closure in place.

Another object is to provide a locking means such as described which will operate to tighten and seal the lid or closure as well as securely hold it against accidental removal, thereby preventing the escape of disagreeable odors and the attraction of insects.

Another object is to provide an improved constructi-on in garbage pails and the like whereby the pail is effectively reinforced and made more durable and reliable in use by reason of embodying therein the particular closure lock hereof and the parts and elements associated therewith.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a garbage can embodying the present invention and showing in dotted lines how the closure may be raised and removed when the bail is raised,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of locking means embodying the present invention as when locked,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a, sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with the locking means in unlocked position and Fig. 5 is perspective view of one of the cammembers.

As shown in the accompanying drawing the present invention is embodied in a garbage can A, having a flanged cover or lid B and provided with a pivoted bail C. A band 5 is pressed on or otherwise mounted on the top of the can and is provided with an annular flange 6 on which a rubber or similar gasket 1 is fixed toact as a stop and seal for a reinforced bead 8 on the flange 9 of the lid. This flanged band serves also as an effective reinforcing for the can.

The locking means hereof is provided on opposite sides of the can and has the bail C connected therewith so that when the bail is moved into down position along side the can, the lid will be locked but will be released on lifting the bail part way, for example, somewhat above a horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that while the bail is disposed on either side of the can between its initial released position and its upright or vertical position, the lid will be unlocked and free to be removed but will be locked against removal while the bail is between said releasing positions and its down position. Moreover the locking means is constructed and arranged so that during the movement of the bail into said down position the lid is forced downwardly against the gasket 1 and thus tightly sealed to prevent escape of objectionable odors and the attraction of insects.

The locking means on each side of the can A includes a spring-loaded latch hook in adapted tobe-moved into and out of locking contact with the bead 8 of the cover 9 responsive to the turning of an eccentrically mounted cam member ll mounted on the can. The ends of the bail C are welded or otherwise secured to the cam members l i so that the latter will be turned responsive to lifting and lowering of the bail.

Each cam member 1 comprises a circular body l3 having an annular flange [4 adapted to bear against the shank ll) of the hook Ill. A bolt I5 is passed through the adjacent side of the can and the body 13 to one side of the center of said body and serves as a pivot for the cam member, the outer end of the bolt being riveted to hold the cam member in place.

A channel shaped guide bracket i1 is held against the side of the can on the bolt l5 by means of a riveted portion l8 whereby the shank ID will be held in upright position and guided during movement thereof incident to moving the hook into and out of locking position. The outer I it is provided with a" longitudinal slot" I9 10 through which the bolt extends.

The flange I4 of each cam member is provided; 1.

on its margin with like looking cam .surfaces., and 2I spaced apart less than 90 degrees-- and" having a locking dwell surface 22Z-therebetween.-. The remainder of the margin of the. flange III serves as an unlocking cam surface 23'. That" portion of the shank I0 which extendsbetween the flange I4 and the side of the can is inwardly ofiset and at pointsopposite said flange is formed with curved Or convex bearing portions 24 for contactwith'the cam-surfaceson the margin of saidflange. These portions zditogether with said can; surfaces on the margin. of theflange, I4, in. coaction with-thespring I91 provide for inward. and ro tward movements of. the latch, hook II)" responsive to lowering. andlifting of, the bail C. the inward: movement disposing the hook in kicking; position and thevoutward movement disposing the. hook in unlocking position.

Means are provided toraise andlower the latch hook If! on each side of. thecan so that in case the lidB' isnot pushed. all the waydown on. the can,.the latch hookswilllbe positively moved into lockingposition with respect to thebead 80f the;

Iid'andwiIl force the lid down into proper posi tion. on. the can. In. each. locking means this verticalgmovement is effected by, the eccentric moyernent of the cam;member. I3 andthe contactingofthe outer peripherial. surface of the. flange; I4. with. a". shoulder. 26' and. a' lateral" foot portionj] on the shank II), The shoulder 26" rides on topsofthe flange I4 whereasthe foot 21 beingthe. outwardly bent lower end' of theshank, rides againstthelower side. of. the flange. H

w The, cammembers I3. and; associated parts are arrangedsothatwhenthebailC is held up in thegdotted. position shown on.. Fig. 1 or. above suchposition the parts ofthe locking means on each side ofthe'cam. will be in unlocked posi'-' tion substantially as shown in Fig: 4 At this timethe unlocking dwells 23 are in contact with theuppermost.curvedisurfaces I 24 on the shanks andv the. hook Ifll; is held outwardly by the spring I $i,- while the locking dwells, 22 bear againstthe curved surfaces 24. on. the lower ends of the shanks and hol'cLthel lower ends of the shanks in towardthe side. of the can. At this' time the" h ooks, III. are held in their uppermostposition. by the eccentric cam members which have the greater. portions. thereof disposed above the bolt I.5 The-lid 9 may now be placed on the can. so that the beads lies. below the hook II] as shown inFig, Should, however. the lid be. put on so thatit. is notv all. th e way down against the gasket on the lid flange fi, it will. be. urged against s' aid gasket and: tightly sealed during the locking. operation. H 4v After. the lid placed on the can the". operator pushes thebailc down on. either side of the can and in so doing turns the cam members, I3 cor-' respondinglyso that they will move thehooks l qdownwardly andinwardly over and against the head n that lo s h l n p s h downward movement of the hooks I0 is effected by means of the flange I 4 of the eccentrically mounted cam members I3 turning against the foot portions 2'! on the lower ends of the shanks of said hooks whereas the inward movement is eifectcd by corresponding cam surfaces 20 or 2| depending on which side of the can the bail is swung downwardly, the effective ones of said surfaces contacting the uppermost curved surfaces 24 onthe shanks" of. the hooks'and the dwell 22J-holding the hooks in overi-the-bead position. The flanges I I are provided with like flat portions 28, certain of which are contacted by theportions 21 on the shanks of the hooks to l'iold-thehooks against accidental movement out of locked .positionias shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the bail isswung downward on one side of the can and the other'ofwvhich flat portions function similarly when the bail is swung down on the other side of the can.

It will now be apparent that I have provided .a simply constructed, small and comp act 'locking means whichmay beinexpensively' produced' a'n'd" readily embodied in various type of lidded're ceptacleswherein it is desirable to lock't'he lid" against removal except when the bailis-usedtof lift the receptacle. Usedfin garbagecans; proved means willstrengthen the canand add to its. life while preventing animals; from knockeing thelid off and, will makefor increasedsan'i tation bymeans of a, tight seal of the lid:

WhileI haveshown, and described a specifi'di embodiment of my invention, I- do ,not'limitmy self to the. exact detailsof constructionset'forth, and the inventionembraces suchcha'nges, modifications and equivalentsof the parts and their" formation and arrangement. as come within" the}, purview of the. appended claims.

I. claim: g

1.. Thecombination. with a. receptacle having; a flanged closure therefora, bead on the lower edgeof. the flange of the closure, a flange on" the; receptacle .as a..seat for the'beaded. edge of the closureifl'ange; of a pair of,brackets ,fixeditoopposite" sides of the receptacle, cup-shaped cam members encompassing said brackets, pivots on which said cam membersa'relmountedito turn. a bailfixed to said. camrnembers' so thatsaid j cam members will turn when the bail is raised". and lowered, iatchhooks having shanks slidably and vertically adjustably supported on said pivots: within said. brackets,- spring means for. forcing" said hooks. outwardly, on .said pivots, said' cam, members H including. circular body portions through. which said pivotsextend'. and towhich'. theends of the bailv arefixed, annular. flanges; on said bodies facing the sides of'th'e' receptacle and cam surfaces arranged on the. annular flanges of said cam members for contacting said shanks of said hooks and moving the hooks against theaction of said spring means into lock-3 ing engagementwith the bead on said closure in.- cident to lowering thebaiLto eitherv side of the" cam and for releasing said hooks when thebail. is raised. 7

2. The combination. with. a receptacle having. a flanged: closure, of a pair or: brackets fixedv to; opposite sides of. the. receptacle; cup-shaped. can't; members encompassing said brackets, pivots, on which said cam members, are-mounted. to turn. a bail fixed to said cam member'sso'. as. to. turn, the cam members when the. bail, is'rai sed" and" lowered, latch hooks having shanks's'lidab'ly and, vertically adjustably supported on, said pivots and guided. lay-means, of said; brackets, spring means forcing said hooks outwardly on said.

pivots into unlatching position, said cam members including body portions through which said pivots extend and to which the ends of the bail are fixed, flanges on said body portions facing the sides of the receptacle, and cam surfaces arranged on said flanges of said cam members for contacting said shanks of said hooks and moving the hooks against the action of said spring means into locking engagement with said closure incident to lowering of the bail to either side of the cam and for releasing said hooks when the bail is raised, said body portions con tacting the outer edges of said brackets.

3. The combination with a receptacle having a flanged closure and a flange on the receptacle as a seat for the closure flange, of a pair of brackets fixed to opposite sides of the receptacle, cam members encompassing said brackets, pivots on said receptacle on which said cam members are eccentrically mounted, bail fixed to said cam members so as to turn the latter when raised and lowered, latch hooks having shanks laterally and vertically adjustably supported on said pivots within said brackets, spring means for forcing said shanks outwardly on said pivots, said cam members including circular bodies through which said pivots extend and to which the ends of the bail are fixed, and annular flanges on said bodies, cam surfaces arranged on the annular flanges of said cam members for contacting said shanks of said hooks and moving the hooks inwardly against said spring means into locking engagement with the flange on said closure incident to lowering of the bail to either side of the receptacle and for releasing said hooks when the bail is raised, lateral projections on said shanks, the flanges of said cam members being arranged to contact said projections and pull downwardly on said hooks to, tighten the closure when the hooks are moved into locking position, also operating against said projections to raise the hooks when the ball is lifted upwardly.

4. The combination with a receptacle having a pivoted bail and removable closure of a locking means for releasably locking the closure, on the receptacle including a cam member rotatably mounted. on the receptacle and connected with the ball so as to turn when the bail is swung upwardly and downwardly, a latch hook, means mounted on the receptacle for supporting and guiding said latch hook for movement into and out of locking contact with said closure, and coacting cam elements on the cam member and said latch hook respectively, constructed and arranged to move the latch hook into closure-locking position when the bail is lowered and to release said hook when the bail is raised.

5. The combination with a receptacle having a pivoted bail and a removable closure, of a locking means for releasably locking the closure on the receptacle including a cam member rotatably mounted on the receptacle and connected with the bail so as to turn when the ball is swung upwardly and downwardly, a latch hook, means mounted on the receptacle for supporting and guiding said latch hook for movement into and out of locking contact with said closure, and means responding to the turning of said cam member for moving said hook into and out of position for locking the closure on the receptacle including coacting cam portions on said cam members and said hook respectively.

6. The combination with a receptacle having a removable closure, a rotary cam member, means for mounting said cam member on a side of the receptacle, a pivoted bail for said receptacle connected with said cam member so as to turn the cam member on raising and lowering of the hail,

of a latch hook mounted between said cam tion to lock the closure in place when the bail is lowered and raised respectively.

'7. The combination with a receptacle having a removable closure, of a rotary cam member, means for mounting said cam member on a side of the receptacle, a pivoted bail for said receptacle connected with said cam member so as to turn the cam member on raising and lowering of the bail, a latch hook mounted between said cam member and said side of the receptacle for movement relative thereto into and out of position to lock the closure on the receptacle and coacting cam portions on said hook and said cam member for moving said latch hook into and out of position to lock the closure in place when the bail is lowered and raised respectively and other coacting cam portions on said hook and said cam member respectively for moving said hook vertically during the turning of said cam member.

8. The combination with a receptacle having a closure, of cup-shaped rotary cam members, means for mounting said cam members on the opposite sides of the receptacle, a bail fixed to said cam members so that the cam members will turn when the ball is raised and lowered, latch hooks having shanks slidably and vertically adjustably supported between the cam members and said sides of the receptacle on the mounting means for said cam members so that said hooks may be moved into and out of locking contact with said closure, and coacting cam elements on said shanks and said cam members for moving said hooks into and out of locking contact with said closure.

9. The combination with a receptacle having a closure, of a pair of brackets fixed to opposite sides of the receptacle, cup-shaped cam members encompassing said brackets, pivots on which said cam members are mounted to turn, a bail fixed to said cam members so as to turn the cam members when the ball is raised and lowered, latch hooks having shanks slidably and vertically adjustably supported on said pivots and guided by means of said brackets, said cam members including body portions through which said pivots extend and to which the ends of the bail are fixed, flanges on said body portions facing the sides of the receptacle, and cam surfaces arranged on said flanges of said cam members for contacting said shanks of said hooks and moving the hooks into locking engagement with said closure incident to lowering of the bail to either side of the cam and for releasing said hooks when the bail is raised.

10. The combination with a receptacle having a closure of a pair of brackets fixed to opposite sides of the receptacle, cam members encompassing said brackets, pivots on said receptacle on which said cam members are eccentrically mounted, a bail fixed to said cam members so as to turn the latter when raised and lowered, latch hooks having shanks laterally and vertically adjustably supported on said pivots within said brackets, said cam members including circular bodies to which the ends of the bail are fixed, and annular flanges on said bodies, cam surfaces lam-m1 bars; fox; cuntactingf aid cidemti.cu;lowering;v of the bal -11 to -eijgherv side of the recenbaclgandforqr l fifii l a ald ih okspwh n; 6

lsg o ratl sz a ainst? ai miwt ona Q aiw The=following references-are of recordamatheh filcof thispatent:

ED TATES; P EN S 

